H.B. No. 400
AN ACT
relating to innovation grant programs to support residency training
programs in psychiatric specialty fields and recruitment,
training, and retention programs in behavioral health fields.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 58A, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter D to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER D. PSYCHIATRIC SPECIALTY INNOVATION GRANT PROGRAM
Sec. 58A.071. PSYCHIATRIC SPECIALTY INNOVATION GRANT
PROGRAM. Subject to available funds, the board shall establish an
innovation grant program under which the board awards incentive
payments to medical schools that administer innovative residency
training programs designed to increase the number of physicians in
this state who specialize in pediatric or adult psychiatric care.
Sec. 58A.072. FEDERAL FUNDS AND GIFTS, GRANTS, AND
DONATIONS. In addition to other money appropriated by the
legislature, for the purpose of promoting pediatric or adult
psychiatric care under the program established under this
subchapter the board may:
(1) seek and apply for any available federal funds;
and
(2) solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations
from any other source, public or private, as necessary to ensure
effective implementation of the program.
Sec. 58A.073. RULES. In consultation with each medical
school in this state, the board shall adopt rules for the
administration of the program established under this
subchapter. The rules must include:
(1) administrative provisions relating to the
awarding of grants under this subchapter, such as:
(A) eligibility criteria for medical schools,
including a requirement that the medical school demonstrate
regional and state workforce need;
(B) grant application procedures;
(C) guidelines relating to grant amounts;
(D) procedures for evaluating grant
applications; and
(E) procedures for monitoring the use of grants;
and
(2) methods for tracking the effectiveness of grants
that:
(A) using data reasonably available to the board,
consider relevant information regarding the career paths of medical
school graduates during the four-year period following their
graduation; and
(B) evaluate whether and for how long those
graduates practice in a psychiatric specialty field in this state.
Sec. 58A.074. AWARD OF GRANTS. (a) In awarding grants
under the program, the board shall award:
(1) 60 percent of the amount available in each program
year to medical schools with innovative residency programs that
train physicians to specialize in pediatric psychiatric care; and
(2) 40 percent of the amount available in each program
year to medical schools with innovative residency programs that
train physicians to specialize in adult psychiatric care.
(b) Within each category of grants prescribed by Subsection
(a), the board shall give priority to grants to medical schools with
innovative residency programs based in rural or underserved areas.
Sec. 58A.075. GRANT AMOUNT. The amount of a grant awarded
under this subchapter may not exceed $1 million.
Sec. 58A.076. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. A medical school
that receives a grant awarded under this subchapter shall submit to
the board an annual report on the amounts and purposes for which
grant funds were spent during the year covered by the report.
Sec. 58A.077. ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. A reasonable amount,
not to exceed five percent, of any general revenue appropriated for
purposes of this subchapter may be used by the board to pay the
costs of administering this subchapter.
SECTION 2. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter RR to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER RR. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INNOVATION GRANT PROGRAM
Sec. 61.9991. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INNOVATION GRANT PROGRAM.
Subject to available funds, the board shall establish an innovation
grant program under which the board awards incentive payments to
institutions of higher education that administer innovative
recruitment, training, and retention programs designed to increase
the number of mental health professionals, as defined by Section
61.601, or professionals in related fields, as determined by the
board, including by providing a salary increase or stipend to a
faculty member who provides instruction to additional students in a
degree or certificate program that graduates those professionals.
Sec. 61.9992. FEDERAL FUNDS AND GIFTS, GRANTS, AND
DONATIONS. In addition to other money appropriated by the
legislature, for the purpose of increasing the behavioral health
workforce in this state under the program established under this
subchapter the board may:
(1) seek and apply for any available federal funds;
and
(2) solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations
from any other source, public or private, as necessary to ensure
effective implementation of the program.
Sec. 61.9993. RULES. (a) The board shall adopt rules for
the administration of the program established under this
subchapter. In adopting the rules, the board shall solicit from the
Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council information necessary to
identify programs anticipated to produce the best outcomes and
serve the greatest need.
(b) The rules must include:
(1) administrative provisions relating to the
awarding of grants under this subchapter, such as:
(A) eligibility criteria for institutions of
higher education, including a requirement that the institution
demonstrate regional and state workforce need;
(B) grant application procedures;
(C) guidelines relating to grant amounts;
(D) procedures for evaluating grant
applications; and
(E) procedures for monitoring the use of grants;
and
(2) methods for tracking the effectiveness of grants
that:
(A) using data reasonably available to the board,
consider relevant information regarding the career paths of
professionals described by Section 61.9991 during the four-year
period following their graduation; and
(B) evaluate whether and for how long those
professionals practice in a field described by Section 61.9991 in
this state.
Sec. 61.9994. AWARD OF GRANTS. In awarding grants under the
program, the board shall give priority to applicants that propose
to:
(1) enhance or leverage existing degree programs that
graduate professionals described by Section 61.9991;
(2) establish or maintain a program that serves a
rural or underserved area;
(3) partner with:
(A) another institution of higher education to
develop a joint program; or
(B) a public school to implement early
recruitment in high school;
(4) establish or maintain a program that incentivizes
professionals described by Section 61.9991 to serve in their field
or a related field of study for at least three consecutive years
following graduation in an inpatient or outpatient behavioral
health facility or program that receives state funding;
(5) establish or maintain a degree or certificate
program to educate professionals in specialties that face
significant workforce shortages, including those described by
Section 61.601; or
(6) establish or maintain psychiatric fellowship
programs that serve correctional facilities or inpatient
psychiatric facilities.
Sec. 61.9995. GRANT AMOUNT. The amount of a grant awarded
under this subchapter may not exceed $1 million.
Sec. 61.9996. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. An institution of
higher education that receives a grant awarded under this
subchapter shall submit to the board an annual report on the amounts
and purposes for which grant funds were spent during the year
covered by the report.
Sec. 61.9997. ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. A reasonable amount,
not to exceed five percent, of any general revenue appropriated for
purposes of this subchapter may be used by the board to pay the
costs of administering this subchapter.
SECTION 3. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective
date of this Act, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
shall adopt rules for the implementation and administration of the
innovation grant programs established under Subchapter D, Chapter
58A, Education Code, and Subchapter RR, Chapter 61, Education Code,
as added by this Act.
(b) Not later than September 1, 2024, the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board shall establish the innovation grant
programs required by Subchapter D, Chapter 58A, Education Code, and
Subchapter RR, Chapter 61, Education Code, as added by this Act, and
shall begin to award grants under each program as soon as
practicable after the program is established.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 400 was passed by the House on May 1,
2023, by the following vote: Yeas 124, Nays 18, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 400 was passed by the Senate on May
23, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 4.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor